Tang Miao's Tragic Death, Nuoding Academy

The setting sun cast a long shadow over the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch. Tang San stepped out of the hall; the dazzling sunlight made him squint slightly, but his heart was filled with a burning light.

Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power! This huge surprise impacted his mind, directly overwhelming any instinctive aversion he had to the ugly image of the Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul.

He suppressed his excitement and hurried towards his simple home in the west of the city. He wanted to tell his mother, Tang Miao woman who had raised him with such hardship, this wonderful news as soon as possible.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a faint scent of herbs wafted out. Tang Miao was sitting by the window, mending an old garment in the last rays of daylight.

She looked to be in her early twenties, with delicate features, but her eyes held a lingering melancholy.

Seeing her son return, she immediately put down her work and smiled gently, "Little San, you're back? Did the awakening go smoothly?"

"Mother!" Tang San rushed to his mother, his voice trembling with excitement. "I've awakened my Martial Soul! It's... it's the Man Faced Demon Spider!" He paused, carefully observing his mother's expression, after all, this Martial Soul didn't have a good reputation.

Upon hearing this, Tang Miao was taken aback at first, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. But seeing his son's expectant yet apprehensive gaze, that complexity was quickly replaced by joy.

She gently hugged her son, her voice choked with emotion. "Man Faced Demon Spider... Good, good! As long as it's the third son's awakened Martial Soul, it's the best Martial Soul! My son will definitely become a powerful Soul Master in the future, and he won't have to live such a hard life anymore!"

"Mother, there's even better news!" Tang San lowered his voice, leaned close to his mother's ear, and was so excited he was almost incoherent. "I... I don't just have one Martial Soul! I have a second Martial Soul! It's... it's a dragon! A crimson-gold dragon! And my Innate Soul Power is maxed out!"

"What?!" Tang Miao was struck dumb, shoving her son away and grabbing his shoulders tightly. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her voice trembled uncontrollably. "Twin... Twin Martial Souls? Innate Full Soul Power? Xiao San, you... you're telling the truth?!"

"Absolutely true!" Tang San nodded emphatically, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "When my second Martial Soul Awakening, it seemed like some kind of power was protecting it, and no one else noticed! Mother, look!" With a slight thought, he carefully guided that hidden power.

Instantly, a miniature, yet noble and domineering, Crimson Gold Dragon shadow flashed past on his right palm! The pure Dragon Might might made Tang Miao, who only Cultivation Level of Soul Grandmaster, tremble in his soul!

"A dragon... it really is a dragon! A crimson-gold dragon!" Tang Miao collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, but this time they were tears of ecstatic joy! She came from an ordinary family, her Martial Soul was a weak Poison Spider, and by chance she had a one-night stand with that important figure, which led to the birth of Tang San.

She had always felt that she was a burden to her son, making him inherently inferior. But now, her son actually possessed Twin Martial Souls, a rare find, and Innate Full Soul Power! This was truly a gift from God!

"Yes... yes! It must be your father's bloodline... the White Armored Earth Dragon... has been sublimated!" Tang Miao was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently. She naturally believed that it was Tuoba Xi's powerful bloodline, combined with the unknown potential of her own lineage (she imagined her ordinary Poison Spider Martial Soul as some kind of potential Martial Soul), that created her son's miracle!

"Mistress! This matter is of utmost importance, and we absolutely cannot let a fourth person know about it! Especially... especially that poisonous woman from the Huyan Family!" Tang Miao quickly calmed down, her expression becoming extremely serious.

Although her Cultivation Level was not high, even a fool would know what Twin Martial Souls meant, and even more so, how many covetous eyes and deadly dangers would be attracted if this information were to spread.

But on the other hand, she felt she had to tell the child's father! Such a genius deserved the family's attention and protection! Perhaps... this was their chance to escape their current situation, and maybe... she could even have a legitimate claim to the family?

A bold and adventurous idea sprouted in her mind. She pulled Tang San into the house, closed the door tightly, found paper and pen, and with trembling hands, briefly wrote down the matter of her son's Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, and begged Tuoba Xi to consider their familial bond and grant him protection.

She believes that no father could remain unmoved upon learning of his son's talent!

"Xiao San, stay home and don't go anywhere! I'm going to mail a letter and will be back soon!" Tang Miao carefully hid the letter on her body, repeatedly instructed Tang San, and then hurriedly left home.

However, she underestimated the influence of the Huyan Family within the Tuoba Family, and also underestimated Huyan Lian's ability to monitor her husband's philandering.

The letter, sent to the Tuoba Family's territory, was discovered and reported by Huyan Lian's spies planted in the city shortly after it was sent.

In Nuoding City, Separate Courtyard Huyan Family.

"Hmph! Nuoding City, the slums? Tuoba Xi, you're still entangled with that bitch surnamed Tang!" A middle-aged woman with an unusually tall and burly build and a somewhat mean and fierce face looked at the intelligence in her hand, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes.

She is Huyan Lian, the legal wife of Tuoba Xi, the younger sister of Huyan Zhen, the current head of the Diamond Mammoth Clan, and Soul Emperor Cultivation Level.

She had known of Tang Miao's existence for a long time, but previously thought that a mere Soul Grandmaster with meager talent would likely have a useless child, so she was too lazy to deal with him personally, only waiting for Tuoba Xi's novelty to wear off before discarding him. But now, this bitch dared to take the initiative to write a letter to contact her? It seems she's been living too comfortably!

"Let's go, take a few men, and 'invite' that bitch and her little bastard over here," Huyan Lian coldly ordered a Soul King -level guard behind her, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

To her, dealing with her husband's mistress and illegitimate child was as commonplace as crushing ants. Tuoba Xi might be dissatisfied, but he would never dare to completely turn against her or the Huyan Family for the sake of a few dead people.

However, shortly after her men set off, the letter was delivered by fast horse to Tuoba Xi, who was handling family affairs in a nearby city.

When Tuoba Xi casually opened the letter and saw words like "Twin Martial Souls," "Man Faced Demon Spider," "Crimson Gold Dragon," and "Innate Full Soul Power," he suddenly jumped up from his seat, his face instantly draining of all color, followed by a surge of wild joy.

"Twin Martial Souls! Crimson Gold Dragon?! Innate Full Soul Power! This... this is simply the hope for the rise of my Tuoba Family!" Tuoba Xi's heart pounded wildly; he understood better than Tang Miao what this meant.

The Man Faced Demon Spider is already Top-tier Martial Soul, and that crimson-gold dragon Martial Soul is clearly no ordinary Martial Soul either; it's at least no weaker than the White Armored Earth Dragon. Such a genius must be his bloodline.

But the next moment, his spy planted next to his wife, Huyan Lian, also brought an urgent report: the lady had learned the exact location of Tang Miao and her son, and had left the family with several trusted experts, exuding murderous intent!

"Fool! You useless, incompetent woman who only brings trouble!" Tuoba Xi slammed his hand hard on the expensive rosewood desk, leaving a clear handprint.

He was not Huyan Lian discovered his affair, but that Tang Miao's foolish behavior alerted the enemy, and he was even Huyan Lian's ruthlessness and shortsightedness!

He was indeed a womanizer with countless lovers, and Tang Miao was just one of his many fleeting affairs, which he had long since forgotten.

Normally, if Huyan Lian wanted to deal with such an insignificant woman and child, he would at most frown, but he would never break ties with his wife, who came from the Huyan Family and whose maternal clan was powerful, for their sake.

You can find another lover if you lose one; it's not worth jeopardizing the family's future for them.

But this time is different! The letter clearly states: Twin Martial Souls! Man Faced Demon Spider and Crimson Gold Dragon! Innate Full Soul Power! What an incredible, heaven-defying talent!

Looking across the entire Douluo Continent, those with such talent are extremely rare! How can this be an illegitimate child? This is clearly a gift from heaven bestowing upon him the hope for the Tuoba Family's resurgence! He is Qilin who will lead the Tuoba Family to even greater heights!

However, he was still too late.

When Tuoba Xi, riding his flying Soul Beast, crashed like a meteorite into that familiar little courtyard in the Nuoding City, what he saw was a scene that made his eyes widen in horror!

The courtyard was a mess, with collapsed walls. Tang Miao lay in a pool of blood, a horrific penetrating wound in his chest, already dead.

Her eyes were wide open, staring towards the courtyard gate, as if she had died with her eyes open in disbelief. Behind her, a small, thin figure was curled up in the corner, covered in blood, his breath as faint as a whisper—it was Tang San.

Before him, the phantom of the Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul flickered in and out of sight, its spider legs broken, clearly indicating a fierce battle had taken place, but ultimately the difference in strength was too great.

Several guards from the Huyan Family were approaching with cold smiles, while Huyan Lian stood leisurely not far away, a cruel pleasure on his face.

"Stop!" Tuoba Xi's eyes were bloodshot, and the terrifying pressure of Soul Douluo erupted like a tsunami, instantly blasting several Soul King- level guards away, causing them to spit out blood!

"Tuoba Xi?!" Huyan Lian's expression changed, not expecting him to arrive so quickly, but then she sneered, "What? Feeling sorry for your little lover and bastard? This bitch dared to contact you in private, and this little bastard even dared to attack me, they deserve to die!"

"You... you poisonous woman!" Tuoba Xi looked at Tang Miao's corpse, then at the dying Tang San, his heart filled with rage, but he forcibly suppressed it.

Now is not the time to turn against him; saving Tang San is the priority! He suppressed his murderous intent and said sternly, "Huyan Lian! Tang San is still my bloodline! How dare you lay a hand on him? According to family rules, you have no right to interfere in the handling of illegitimate children; you have overstepped your bounds!"

"Rules?" Huyan Lian scoffed, pointing at the slowly dissipating phantom of the Man Faced Demon Spider behind Tang San. "Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power! Tuoba Xi, tell me, will keeping this kid alive be a blessing or a curse in the future? He has a blood feud with me for killing my mother, how could he be loyal to the family? It's better to eliminate him as soon as possible to prevent future troubles! I'm doing this to rid the family of a scourge!"

She did indeed intend to kill him. Originally, she only wanted to cripple Tang Miao and humiliate him. Unexpectedly, Tang San, in order to protect his mother, unleashed his Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul, and with Innate Full Soul Power! Such talent, if he were to grow up and learn of today's events, would surely become a major threat! So she decided to go all the way!

Normally, Tuoba Xi might have tolerated it. But today, looking at his son, who possessed extraordinary talent but was on the verge of death, and recalling Huyan Lian's past arrogance, his pent-up anger finally erupted. "Turning against you? Huyan Lian, do you really think I Tuoba Xi, am afraid of your Huyan Family? Get out!"

The final "Get lost!" contained the terrifying Soul Power of Soul Douluo, booming like thunder! Several of Huyan Lian's subordinates were so shocked that their eardrums ruptured, they coughed up blood and flew backward, looking utterly disheveled.

Huyan Lian was both shocked and furious. She never expected that Tuoba Xi would dare to treat her like this for the sake of an illegitimate child! She stared intently at Tang San, who was being protected by Tuoba Xi, her eyes filled with even more murderous intent.

This child must not be allowed to live! A genius with Innate Full Soul Power, today we have formed a deadly enmity. If he is allowed to grow up, the consequences will be unimaginable! But with Tuoba Xi here, she has no chance.

"Fine! You, Tuoba Xi! You dare to do this for a bastard! We'll see!" Huyan Lian glared at Tuoba Xi with resentment, then led her men away in a huff. She was already plotting how to use her family's power to get rid of this major threat as soon as possible.

Tuoba Xi ignored Huyan Lian's departure and quickly fed Tang San a Life-Saving Pill, then used his pure Soul Power to stabilize Tang San's heart meridian.

Looking at his son's pale face, which bore a resemblance to Tang Miao, and his eyes filled with hatred and a hint of confusion, countless thoughts flashed through Tuoba Xi's mind.

He crouched down, looked at Tang San, and forced a mixture of grief and anger onto his face. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Child... I am your father, Tuoba Xi. I'm sorry, I'm late... I've made sure your mother..." He choked up at one point.

Tang San looked at the suddenly appearing, powerful stranger, heard the word "father," and then looked at his mother's cold corpse beside him. Memories of his past and present lives, along with ethical norms, overwhelmed him, leaving him with a complex mix of emotions.

Hatred, sorrow, a fragile sense of finding solace, and belated, complex emotions toward this "father" are all intertwined.

Tuoba Xi gently picked up Tang San and said sorrowfully, "Little San, don't worry, your father will definitely avenge your mother! But... that poisonous woman comes from the Huyan Family, which has great power. Although your father is the head of the family, there are still many Elder in the family who have close ties with the Huyan Family. Your father can't do anything about it... Alas!"

He let out a long sigh, perfectly portraying the image of a patriarch who was powerless to control his own destiny and had to endure humiliation.

Upon hearing this, Tang San's eyes burned with even greater hatred. He gritted his teeth, his voice weak yet resolute. "Father... I understand! It's those elders who are holding me back, it's the Huyan Family's power that's hindering us. One day, I will personally kill my enemies and avenge my mother! I will help you cleanse the family and regain your power!"

Images of power struggles within the Tang Sect of his past life flashed through his mind, and he automatically projected his current situation onto them.

Tuoba Xi was secretly delighted; his son was so naive. He continued to deceive her, attributing Huyan Lian's ruthlessness to internal family struggles and external pressures, portraying himself as a tragic hero who deeply loved them but was powerless to change their fate.

He even implied that Tang Miao was the love of his life (pure deception), and that his marriage to Huyan Lian was merely a political alliance with no feelings involved (this is true, as evidenced by Huyan Lian's uniformly wide physique).

This performance successfully won the trust and sympathy of Tang San, who was naive and deeply influenced by the feudal patriarchal ideology of his "previous life".

Tang San even felt that his father had gone through so much, and he had to work hard to become stronger so that he could help his father get out of his predicament and avenge his mother in the future.

However, Tuoba Xi's "protection" plan was not to bring Tang San back to his family, which was fraught with danger. He knew that Huyan Lian would never let the matter rest. The Huyan Family had become powerful in recent years, and some members of the family had already been infiltrated by them, so they were not necessarily safe. Furthermore, the secret of the Twin Martial Souls could not be easily exposed.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes as he conceived a plan to "make the best of a bad situation."

Several days later, some people in Nuoding City vaguely saw the Tuoba Family head seemingly leaving in a hurry with a child who was wrapped up tightly.

In reality, the real Tang San, through Tuoba Xi's clever arrangement, changed his appearance and moved into an inconspicuous courtyard in Nuoding City.

Tuoba Xi gave him an exquisite Human Skin Mask Soul Tool (level four), enough to deceive everyone in a small place like Nuoding City, and also left him a sum of money that was enough for him to live and cultivate for several years.

They fabricated an orphan identity for him called "Tang Chi" and arranged for him to enter Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy as a Work-Study Student.

Before leaving, Tuoba Xi personally "visited" the dean of the Nuoding Academy, an old Soul Master in his sixties whose Cultivation Level stuck at the Soul King realm. Faced with the Soul Douluo's "kind entrustment," the old dean was trembling with fear and readily agreed to "take good care" of this Work-Study Student named "Tang Chi."

And so, Tang San, bearing the identity of "Tang Chi" and carrying the pain of losing his mother and the deep-seated hatred, stepped into the Nuoding Academy.

First day of school, in the dormitory for Work-Study Student.

Tang San (Tang Chi) silently tidied his bed in the worst spot near the door, his expression indifferent. The noise of the other Work-Study Student around him seemed irrelevant. Having experienced a great upheaval, his temperament had become more mature and gloomy, and he only wanted to cultivate in a low-key manner and gain the power of revenge as soon as possible.

Just then, the dormitory door was pushed open, and a clear yet somewhat domineering voice rang out. "Hey! I'm new here, I know the rules. Who's the boss of Dorm Seven? Come out and let's have a go!"

Tang San looked up and saw a pretty little girl standing at the door. She looked about six or seven years old, dressed in simple Work-Study Student clothes, but her intelligence and beauty were still evident.

Her delicate face was fair with a rosy glow, and her large, bright eyes darted around, revealing a mischievous and energetic side. Most striking was the scorpion braid tied at the back of her head, which swayed gently with her movements.

This girl is none other than Xiao Wu, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Soft Bone Rabbit, who secretly ran away from the Star Dou Great Forest and transformed into human form to play in the human world.

Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips, her gaze sweeping over the Work-Study Student in the dormitory, finally landing on Tang San had an ordinary appearance (wearing Human Skin Mask) and a somewhat sinister aura, in the corner.

She wrinkled her small nose, instinctively feeling a slight discomfort. It wasn't that she saw through Tang San's disguise, but rather that her keen Soul Beast intuition detected a faint... aura of a natural enemy emanating from him.

It resembled some kind of Soul Beast that was adept at catching insects and small animals, which made this rabbit spirit dislike it very much.

"You, yes, it's you!" Xiao Wu pointed at Tang San, chin raised, "You look silly. Come here, let's fight. Whoever wins is the boss!"

If it were before his mother died, Tang San might have found this girl lively and adorable. But now, filled with hatred and wariness, he only found her noisy and troublesome.

In particular, the Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul within him seemed to have developed a slight restlessness towards the "food" before him.

Tang San glanced coldly at Xiao Wu, too lazy to pay her any attention, and continued to tidy up the bed.

"Hey! How dare you ignore me?!" Xiao Wu's almond-shaped eyes widened at the sight. She was a little tyrant in the great forest, and when had she ever been ignored like this? Immediately, she kicked off with her little leg and rushed towards Tang San like a pink whirlwind, raising her foot to kick!

Tang San's eyes turned cold. Although his Soul Power was not high, he still had the martial arts foundation of the Tang Sect from his previous life. He slipped his foot without making a sound, skillfully avoiding Xiao Wu's kick. At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning, accurately grabbing Xiao Wu's ankle, using the Tang Sect's grappling technique.

Xiao Wu exclaimed "Huh?" She hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary guy to react so quickly. With a twist of her waist, her other leg swept towards Tang San's face like a whip, her movements so supple they seemed inhuman.

The two exchanged blows in the cramped Work-Study Student room, quickly going back and forth. Tang San defended steadily with his exquisite techniques, while Xiao Wu relied on the agility and strength of her Soul Beast to launch a powerful attack. For a time, they were evenly matched.

The other Work-Study Student around them were stunned.

In the end, Tang San used a clever move called "Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon" to push Xiao Wu a few steps away, and said coldly, "I have no interest in being a boss, don't bother me."

Xiao Wu stood firm, puffing out her cheeks. Looking at Tang San's indifferent expression and the increasingly uncomfortable aura emanating from him, she snorted, "Hmph! What's with the attitude! You stink like a spider, I hate it! I'm not fighting anymore!"

After saying that, she ran to the best spot in the dormitory, shooed away the Work-Study Student who were originally occupying the spot, and announced, "From now on, I'm the boss of Dorm Seven! Anyone who disagrees, feel free to challenge me!"

Tang San watched Xiao Wu's retreating figure, his brows furrowing slightly. The stench of a spider? She could actually vaguely sense my Martial Soul? This girl is no ordinary person. However, as long as she didn't provoke him, he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble. His goal was to become stronger and take revenge.

Life at the Nuoding Academy began in this eerie atmosphere.